Freedom24 review for European investors in 2025

Freedom24 has been increasing its presence in the European market through strong advertising on social media, including through so-called "finfluencers."  

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of Freedom24, focusing on the platform's features, commissions, products offered, and some controversies surrounding the company. All of this will be analyzed from the perspective of a European investor, as the company's offerings may differ in other jurisdictions.  

Does it have high costs? Are the assets in my name? Is it reliable? Is it true that it offers high interest rates? We will answer all these questions and much more!

Overview

Founded in 2008 and with over 500,000 clients, Freedom24 continues to grow significantly. The platform allows you to invest in stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, and US options with relatively low fees, while also providing access to various international markets, such as NASDAQ, NYSE, CME, HKEX, LSE, Deutsche Börse, and KASE.  

Freedom24 offers a range of financial services, including traditional brokerage services, similar to competitors like XTB or DEGIRO.

To start your investment journey, you can choose between two plans:  

• "Prime in EUR", which gives you access to a personal manager, and  
• "Smart in EUR" ("Smart"), more tailored for accounts with lower balances.  

According to its pricing, it also offers an "All-inclusive" plan, but this is not highlighted on the website and only appears within the platform.  

Additionally, the "InvestIdeas" blog (investment ideas), featuring analyses by Freedom24's securities experts, includes practical recommendations and financial forecasts, making it a useful tool for exploring investment opportunities.

In terms of security, Freedom24, under the official name "Freedom Finance Europe Ltd," is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), license number CIF 275/15, issued on May 20, 2015.

Highlights

Pros and cons

Pros

• Low commissions for trading stocks, ETFs and options
• No minimum deposit
• Demo account available
• Zero custody fees
• Offers a sign-up bonus

Cons

• €7 withdrawal fee
• Platform not very intuitive for beginners
• Involved in some controversies (explained below)
• Not a bank, hence no deposit guarantee fund coverage (though they plan to obtain a banking license in the future)
• Lacks “top-tier” regulators like the FCA or ASIC; CySEC is considered a mid-tier regulator

Investment platform

Freedom24 can be accessed via a web version or a mobile app. Both are adequate for placing trades and are well-designed but lack extensive customization options.

In the web version, once you log in, you’ll see tabs such as “Services,” “Profile,” “Trade,” “Charts,” and “Member Area.” Below is an illustrative screenshot of the “Trade” area:

Services includes:

• What to buy: Freedom24 analysts share stock picks with appreciation potential.
• Freedom Academy: A list of free courses on “Options trading,” “Investment fundamentals,” and more.

Profile shows your portfolio, transactions, and includes an economic calendar:

For technical analysis enthusiasts, Charts lets you analyze asset prices, volumes, moving averages, and trend lines:

Finally, Member Area lets you transfer money, contact support, change your current plan, or even close your account:

The mobile app follows the same logic as the web version, making it consistent with the desktop experience:

Financial instruments

Freedom24 provides thousands of tradeable instruments: stocks, ETFs, bonds, futures, and options on major American, Asian, and European exchanges (NASDAQ, NYSE, CME, HKEX, LSE, Deutsche Börse).

You’ll find everything from growth stocks and dividend aristocrats to oil companies. Bonds and futures are not heavily promoted on their site, but you can access them once logged into your account.

Freedom24 launched Bonds Showcase, allowing for small investments of just €/$1,000. It is a list of high-rated bonds (B+ and above) designed to offer investors a predictable and stable return. This new feature streamlines the process of finding and purchasing bonds, making it more accessible for investors seeking reliable market opportunities and long-term financial growth.

Fees

Freedom24 features two main pricing plans:

Freedom24 - service plans

• Prime in EUR: Offers a personal manager.
• Smart in EUR: Better for smaller amounts.

Example: If you buy 10 shares at €100 each (i.e., €1,000 total):

• Prime in EUR: €3 (0.3% of €1,000) + €0.12 (€0.012×10) + €1.2 = €4.32
• Smart in EUR: €0.20 (€0.02×10) + €2 = €2.20

For options:

• Prime in EUR: $5 per order + $1.5 per contract
• Smart in EUR: $0.65 per contract

Other universal costs:

• Margin lending: From 0.049315% per day in euros if you leverage your positions.
• Bank transfer withdrawal: €7
• Account closure: €100

Note on currency conversion fees: On January 17, 2025, USD/EUR was ~0.97005. Freedom24’s buy and sell rates were 0.97003 and 0.97008, meaning a ~0.005% spread (quite low). Converting euros to dollars and back would yield an immediate loss of ~0.005%.

For further details, consult all fees and terms here.

Regulation

Freedom Holding (parent of Freedom Finance Europe Ltd, which operates Freedom24) adheres to SEC standards. For instance, it undergoes US PCAOB audits, uses US GAAP and IFRS, and is audited by Deloitte.

Meanwhile, Freedom Finance Europe Ltd is licensed by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)(CIF 275/15).

Clients’ assets at Freedom24 should be segregated in separate entities, protected in case of insolvency. If segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, Freedom24 is covered by the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), compensating losses up to €20,000.

However, Freedom24’s terms and conditions indicate the possibility that assets may be held in a non-segregated account, potentially exposing them to creditors’ claims in case of default.

In August 2023, the now-defunct short-seller Hindenburg Research published a critical report about Freedom Finance’s parent company. The next day, Freedom Finance issued a response. There has been no official filing or verification of those allegations, which is a positive sign for Freedom24’s operations.

Freedom24 is not overseen by top-tier regulators like the FCA or ASIC.

Want to know more about the safety of your money when using European brokers? Check this video:

Are the assets in my name?

Short answer: “no,” but you shouldn’t worry.

Like many brokerages, Freedom24 uses “omnibus accounts”, aggregating multiple clients’ holdings under the firm’s name (“street name”). You remain the beneficial owner, which means you effectively control the positions even if they’re not held under your personal name.

This approach simplifies operations and is standard in the brokerage industry.

Analysis to Freedom Holding Corp

Freedom24 is the online trading platform of Freedom Finance Europe. This subsidiary, based in the EU, belongs to Freedom Holding Corp, listed on NASDAQ. Publicly traded companies are scrutinized more rigorously than private ones regarding financial health, operations, management remuneration, and more.

Financial reports are publicly accessible, adding transparency. By reviewing the latest 10-Q (Q2 2025), we see an increase in net gains on trading securities compared to the same quarter last year:

“Trading Securities” is relatively large on the Balance Sheet vs. “Cash and cash equivalents” and “Shareholders’ Equity,” meaning Freedom Holding Corp is more exposed to market risk.

Other points:

• It has a long-term credit rating of “B+” from S&P Global Ratings.
• Fully complies with MiFID II (EU framework ensuring high investor protection).
• Member of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME).

Is Freedom24 a good long-term choice?

Freedom24 can be an option for European investors seeking a platform with a wide range of financial instruments. It is regulated by CySEC, though it lacks top-tier oversight from regulators like the FCA or ASIC.

Limitations include a €7 withdrawal fee, less user-friendly design, and the risks associated with swap-based products. Freedom Holding Corp’s public listing on NASDAQ enhances transparency, but its large exposure to “Trading Securities” may elevate market risk.

Finally, consider the platform’s fees and risks carefully, especially for complex products. For beginners, the platform’s learning curve might be steep; however, demo accounts and educational resources (e.g., Freedom Academy) can help mitigate this challenge.

_{Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.}